By: Catherine Palumbo 

"Earth Day" was celebrated on April 22nd. As a school, we want to inspire our children to be passionate about taking care of their planet for themselves and future generations. With this theme in mind, the PTA and Chesterbrook School have launched a recycling program to help students recycle their lunchtime waste. 

 

There are separate collection bins so that students can recycle products and reduce the amount of waste that is sent to the landfill. This week's results were fabulous, each day producing several large collection bins of material to be recycled instead of just going into the trash.  Kids were excited about the program and some were anxious to recycle items we weren't quite ready to take (Capri Sun juice boxes and sandwich bags). Moving forward, we are hoping to secure these items and others as recyclable.

To start things off right, the SCA (with help from Eleanor Gollob and Kurt Kohls) produced a recycling video featuring the Lorax which was shown on the Morning News several days last week and can be seen at home through Parent Resources on Blackboard. Cafeteria monitors and parent volunteers helped students sort materials. While we were educating students at school, we were trying to think of ways of reducing the amount of trash, as there was still quite a large amount that couldn't be recycled. One of the ways you can help at home is by sending sandwiches/snacks and drinks in washable plastic containers, rather than ziploc bags or juice boxes. This would help to greatly reduce the amount of plastic thrown away daily. You can buy reusable sandwich wrappers, a variety of plastic sandwich containers, and small reusable bottles at the Container Store, MOM's Organic Market, and Whole Foods among other places. You can even buy the "Glad" brand containers at the supermarket and they are very reasonably priced.

Chesterbrook Staff Appreciation Lunch May 7

By Kim Johnson, Hospitality Committee Chairperson 

It's a party for the staff of Chesterbrook Elementary School this year for their Appreciation Luncheon! We need the help of about 43 parents to share their favorite recipes with the staff. The luncheon will not be complete without donations of salads, main dishes and desserts. Please SIGN UP to help them enjoy this special day and to thank them for all they do for our children at Chesterbook.

Please bring your food contribution that Monday May 7th any time before 12:30 to the office or between 12:30 and 1:15 pm directly to the Media Center. If you have any questions, please email kimjohnson5@gmail.com.

• Store hours are 1pm - 9pm
• Includes Gluten Free Pizza ($5 off a medium gluten free pizza)
• $1 off every order of BREADSTICKS, their new product offering  
• 20% of each gift card purchase will be donated to the school
• You can place orders online up to 3 weeks in advance 

Event Date: Saturday, April 28 
 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.  

Join in Fairfax County's 2012 Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration at the Fairfax County Government Center located at 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. This year's festivities include a host of adventures, workshops, food, entertainment and more!

This event is hosted by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services and Clean Fairfax Council. The event will be held rain or shine.

• Document Shredding (8 to Noon)
• Community Clean-up (9 to 11)
• Urban Forestry Workshops & Tree Walks
• Arbor Day Tree Planting
• Wildlife Shows
• Exhibits, Games and Fun!

For details and a complete schedule of events, visit the Clean Fairfax Council website or call 703-324-5471. 

Mark your calendars for a Friday, May 11, 8:30 pm showing of "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit." The movie is fun for all ages. Renowned movie critic Roger Ebert says "Wallace and Gromit are arguably the two most delightful characters in the history of animation." Weather permitting, the movie will be shown outdoors on Chesterbrook's blacktop and hill by the playground.   

The event is FREE and includes popcorn! 

• Please RSVP at www.chesterbrookmovie.eventbrite.com  by Wednesday, May 9 so that we may have an accurate headcount (no need to bring the paper tickets that the system generates)
• Please bring a towel or blanket to sit on and a beverage and snack.The movie will start promptly at 8:30 so please arrive early to get your popcorn and get settled. 
• Please remember this event is a Thank You to our Chesterbrook
  
  families for supporting us all year long, so we ask that you bring only immediate family members.  

This is not a drop-off event. All children must be supervised by a responsible adult.

We need volunteers to help with popcorn, ushering, and clean-up. Middle school volunteers who need hours are welcome. It will be a fun, easy way to earn volunteer credit.  Click here to sign up to volunteer  or contact Melissa House at (703) 506-4558.    

By Emily Ludwikowski, School Outreach Coordinator   

Spring has arrived and my sisters and I are surprised by how busy the outdoor classrooms have been!  This year grades 3-6 have adopted the outdoor classrooms and will be helping to care for them. So far, the third and fifth graders have started the spring weeding process, and the fourth and sixth grades will start soon.  An adoption sign will be posted by each garden with pictures of the students working. We are very grateful for their help in keeping our homes beautiful!  

We've also seen many students learning in the courtyards. Mrs. Moseley has been taking small groups into the gardens to read and work on assignments. The third grade recently began their Ladybug unit and spent an afternoon exploring the habitats at Chesterbrook. They were turning over logs to look for insects, exploring the pond for frogs and tadpoles, and spying on the birds in their new homes. Ms. Hansen took her math group out to work on measurement and money. A little birdie told me that the first grade is also getting ready to plant lettuce in the raised beds. The second grade will be learning about Milkweed and Monarch butterflies as well.

Well, that's all the news we have for now. We look forward to getting to know all of you! 

For now... the Slider Sisters 

Students in Fairfax County public schools will participate in the first National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 9, in an effort to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools. Students are encouraged to bike or walk to school that day.  Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to school, and to work with their school to assemble bike trains or walking groups for the event. More information will be sent home on this program!

McLean HS will host a presentation on May 2nd at 7:30 pm in the McLean HS Lecture Hall on the results of the 2010-2011 Fairfax County Youth Survey Data broken down to illustrate data for just the McLean High School pyramid schools.  Data at this level has never been publicly available before!  Topics will include:  alcohol and other substance usage, nutrition, sleep, bullying, and sexual health AMONG OUR STUDENTS.    (Data for sexual health is for 8th, 10th and 12th graders only.  Surveys for 6th graders do not include that topic.) Dr. Dede Bailer, FCPS School Psychology Services, will be presenting the 2011 FCPS Youth Survey Results at the McLean High School Pyramid level.  This is a unique opportunity for our community to see what our 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade students are saying about their behaviors, experiences, and risk and protective factors that influence their well-being.  This is a parent only program.

April 23-26 -- Spring Book Fair

April 23-27 -- Administrative Professionals Week

April 24 -- Spring Picture Day/Sixth Grade Panorama Picture

April 25 -- Homemade Pizza fundraiser

April 27 -- Spirit Day - Dress as your favorite Book Character   

April 28 --Parent Spring Social 

May 2 -- Presentation on Fairfax County Youth Survey Data

May 7-11 -- Teacher Appreciation Week  

May 7 -- Staff Appreciation Luncheon  

May 8 -- PTA Meeting 7:30 PM 

May 9 -- Bike to School Day

             School Nurse Day 

May 11 -- Family Fun: Movie Night